Overview
This guide is intended to aid end-users and engineers in the selection of metals, elastomers, plastics and paints for use in conjunction with Engineered Fluids’ Dielectric Coolants. Each of the products manufactured by Engineered Fluids is listed in the table below. The information in the table listed in parentheses are ASTM D-1418 nomenclature, common acronyms, brand or trade names.
Because there are many different formulations of compounds produced by manufacturers using the same common name and new formulations are introduced everyday, this document is updated as necessary. Therefore, it is recommended to check that you are referencing the latest version, the latest update is provided in the header of the Master MCG.
For non-certified materials (recommended and not recommended), Engineered Fluids encourages end-users to perform their own material compatibility testing during your product or solution development.
Simplified Material Compatibility Testing Procedure
The following is a simplified compatibility test, which is usable with our Dielectric Coolants for most materials:
Prepare 4 samples of the material to be tested. Each sample should be approximately 50cm by 25cm in area and with a thickness that is common to the material. Except for the Control Sample, place each sample in a small open pyrex or glass container as indicated:
Note: DO NOT MIX different samples of materials in the same container, they may affect each other or bleed pigments, etc. use a separate container for each sample.
- Control Sample – This will be left at ambient room temperature as a reference for changes to the test samples;
- Immersion Sample – Immerse a sample of the subject material in our product using an open glass container and leave it immersed at ambient room temperature;
- Heated Immersion Sample – Immerse a samples of the subject material in our product using an open Pyrex laboratory beaker. Heat this sample in a laboratory oven to a temperature of 80C/176F or 20C/36F hotter than the expected application temperature, whichever is higher. Maintain this temperature for a minimum of 21 days.
- Heated Sample – If your sample material is NOT FLAMMABLE we also recommend heating a non-immersed sample at the same temperature for the same period.
Upon completion of the testing period remove the Heated Immersion and Heated Samples individually and immediately test them for flexibility and rigidity by bending and pulling on it with two pair of needle nose pliers (please keep in mind the samples will be very HOT!). You can also attempt to pass a sharpened pencil or similar object through the test samples. Conduct the same testing on the control and other immersed sample and note the differences in the materials characteristics that will be important to your use of the material.
You can perform the same process for electronic components both static and operating and then test them using suitable testing procedures to determine if they have been affected due to either heat or immersion, or both.
Engineered Fluids does not warranty the results of any testing performed by end-users in accordance with this procedure and end-users accept all risks related to the testing process and will use all necessary safety procedures as required and necessary. The results of this testing should only be used as guide to determine if there are obvious material interactions or incompatibilities.
The only way to ensure that our products are materially compatible with a material is to allow Engineered Fluids to test your samples in our lab in accordance to ASTM methods.
Definitions & Materials Compatibility Certification
This Material Compatibility Guide utilizes several terms, as defined below, to identify the materials compatibility index of a tested material. Materials listed as certified are supported under Engineered Fluids’ Materials Compatibility Warranty for the product under which it was certified.
Prior to issuing a Materials Compatibility Certificate for a material, Engineered Fluids conducts a through accelerated compatibility test based on the customers’ intended use and conditions. This lab testing is generally conducted by Engineered Fluids in conjunction with the end-user to ensure there will be no negative compatibility issues in your intended application.
In the case of materials that were found to have an interaction with our Product, but which did not change the operational characteristics of either the tested compound or our Product (i.e. discoloration) this information is in the Notes.
Certain materials may have a different compatibility index depending on their intended application, please pay attention to the application if noted, and in particular the temperature range for the application if noted.
Definition of Terms
Certified – Compounds that have been tested by Engineered Fluids and have been found to have no material interactions with the listed EF product. Certified Materials are fully supported by Engineered Fluids’ Materials Compatibility Warranty.
Recommended – Compounds that are used successfully by Engineered Fluids’ customers and found to have no material interactions with the listed EF product. Engineered Fluids is prepared to certify these materials for warranty support based on completion of accelerated compatibility testing based on specific application and condition scenarios.
Not Recommended – Compounds that have been found to have unwanted material interactions with the listed EF product. These materials are not certified for warranty support. It should be noted that some of these compounds are still used by Engineered Fluids’ customers, however their use is often subject to special preparation or other mitigating factors.
Short Term – Used for DS-100 only. Compounds that are recommended for exposure to DS-100 for less than 10 minutes of full contact, and less than 3 hours of drying time.
Long Term – Used for DS-100 only. Compounds that are recommended for exposure to DS-100 for less than 2 hours of full contact, and less than 3 hours of drying time.
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